What is an emergency?

An emergency is a large-scale crisis that destroys lives and overwhelms the ability to cope.

A humanitarian emergency can take different forms and have a major impact on people, environment, infrastructure and buildings. World Vision responds to both natural disasters and chronic humanitarian emergencies.

Natural disasters

Natural disasters include flooding, earthquakes, droughts, hurricanes, tsunamis and locust attacks. Often a natural disaster can trigger other emergencies such as famine or conflict.

Chronic emergencies

Some countries are in a state of chronic humanitarian emergency, which is characterised by high degree of political instability, often active or simmering violent conflict, chronic poverty and high vulnerability to natural disasters.

Rapid and slow onset emergencies 

The impacts of an emergency are determined by the scope and vulnerability of the affected population. There is a distinction between rapidly onsetting emergencies and the more slowly onsetting ones.

For instance, the tsunami in south east Asia in December 2004 destroyed the lives of millions of people within minutes. In contrast, the food shortage in southern Africa in 2006 was foreseen months before it actually occurred, enabling us to deliver a proactive response.

Both types of emergencies need immediate action to prevent a deterioration of the situation and any further loss of lives. A prompt and relevant response can save lives and improve  a community's ability to cope with the disaster.

World Vision works with governments, other non-governmental organisations, the United Nations and local communities, both to prepare for and prevent rapidly and slowly occurring disasters.